Trump:

The Iranian people have to have guns and I think they’re getting some guns.

As soon as they have guns, they’ll fight like as good as anybody there is.

Trump:

Zelensky is a tricky guy, and we want to get a settlement. And, you know, they are losing territory, but it’s at a big cost to Russia and to them. And I like Zelensky.

I’ve always sort of gotten along with him, other than the one moment in the White House, which I thought was a little aggressive on his behalf.

Trump:

I think the Pope is endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people.

He thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

Trump:

And I think it’s better to get along with China than it is to fight with China. And they feel the same thing.

And don’t kid yourself — they watch what happened in Venezuela. They watch what happened in Iran, because militarily Iran is essentially over.

NEW: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is traveling to Beijing today to meet his Chinese counterpart.

Trump on Iran:

When I first did this, I thought maybe the market would go down 20% or 25%, and I was okay with that because I knew it would come back up.

And I thought oil could hit $200, $250. Well, oil’s at $100, $102.

Over two dozen House Democrats are urging the Trump administration to acknowledge Israel’s long-suspected nuclear weapons program—breaking decades of U.S. policy and confirming an open secret known since the 1960s.

Source: WaPo

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich dances with rabbis and "settlers" inside the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, celebrating the Jewish holiday known as Lag BaOmer.

Israel is coordinating with the U.S. as rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz threaten the Iran ceasefire, according to an Israeli source.

Plans are in place for a short, targeted campaign—possibly striking Iran’s energy infrastructure and senior officials—to pressure Tehran in negotiations.

The final decision depends on Trump, who is frustrated with stalled talks but hesitant to escalate into full-scale war.

Source: CNN

French President Macron:

Any escalation or unilateral strike against tankers, container ships, or third countries is a mistake.

Pete Hegseth:

The ceasefire is not over; this is a separate project...

Right now, the ceasefire certainly holds, but we’re going to be watching very closely.

General Caine:

These paratroopers are constantly ready to jump from Air Force aircraft into ground combat and seize key terrain if ordered to do so, just like their predecessors did in Sicily and Normandy in World War II.

Pete Hegseth on Iran:

There is only one hand on the wheel ultimately directing this: President Trump.

Pete Hegseth:

Iran is trying to subjugate the world.

Pete Hegseth:

Iran is embarrassed. They said they control the strait; they do not.

Romania’s parliament ousted Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in a no-confidence vote, collapsing his pro-EU minority government.

The move—backed by Social Democrats and far-right parties—raises concerns about political instability, EU funding, and the currency.

President Nicușor Dan will now consult parties to form a new government.

Pete Hegseth:

As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white, and blue dome over the strait.

Pete Hegseth:

Iran is the clear aggressor.

Senator Graham:

If you can prove to me the Kurds are stealing the weapons, the Kurds will regret that.